News Release

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Newton Officers save Woman from Man Armed with Knife NR11335mf

The Newton Area officer involved in the below officer involved shooting has been identified as Police Officer II Antonio Hurtado, who has been with the Department for 6 years.

Los Angeles:This morning, just after 8:00 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) patrol officers from Newton Area saved a woman who was being attacked by a suspect armed with a knife.

On July 20, 2011, just after 8:00 a.m., Newton Area Officers responded to a radio call of a Robbery in Progress in the 3400 block of Broadway. When they arrived, they saw a warehouse type building that was locked in the front by a large padlock. The officers heard screams coming from inside the building and were able to remove the iron grid covering the door to enter the building.

As the officers stepped inside the building, they heard the screaming coming from a room to their left. The officers attempted to enter the room but it was locked. The officers called to the suspect and told him come out of the room. The suspect told the officers he would kill them if they came into the room. Fearing for the safety of the woman, the officers kicked a hole in the door, reached in and unlocked it. At this point they saw the suspect, described as a male white in his mid 40s, and a woman, later identified as Melanie Alvarado, a 49 year-old, female white, hidden behind a pillar. An officer, seeing that Alvarado appeared to be trapped by the suspect, drew his weapon and stepped in the room. Once inside the room the officer could see that Alvarado was being held with a knife to her throat and bleeding profusely from the face and neck. The suspect, released the woman, and then charged in a threatening manner pointing the knife toward the officer. At this point, the officer fired multiple rounds at the suspect, striking him in the upper torso.

The suspect went down to the ground and was immediately taken into custody. The woman was removed from the room and taken from the building.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and pronounced the suspect dead at the scene. The woman was transported to a local area hospital where she was admitted for her injuries. The woman is listed in stable condition.

No officers were injured in the incident. A serrated folding knife was recovered at the scene.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy which states that an officer’s use-of-force actions must be objectively reasonable. Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the facts of the officer-involved shooting Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Newton Area Detectives at 323-846-5363. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.